Pursuant to Article 96 of the Croatian Constitution, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament shall substitute for the President of the Republic if the latter is prevented from performing his/her duties

LUKA BEBIĆ, B. Sc. (Agriculture)
Born in Desne (near Metković) on 21 August 1937. Married to Mrs. Gerda Bebić; father to two children (Asja and Ante).

EDUCATION
Completed primary school in Desne and Dubrovnik, and secondary school of agriculture in Kaštel Lukšić; graduated from the Faculty of Agronomy in Sarajevo; postgraduate studies in Zagreb.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER:
Until 1990: professionally active in Metković (business sector, political functions)

POLITICAL CAREER
1990-2008: serving six consecutive terms as Member of Parliament
11th January 2008: elected Speaker of the Croatian Parliament
2003-2007: Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Chairman of the HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) Representative Group
2003: elected to the HDZ Central Committee at the 8th General Assembly of the Croatian Democratic Union and to the HDZ National Council, Member of the HDZ Presidency
1996-1998: National Security Adviser to the President of the Republic of Croatia
1996: Chairman of the National Security Office (UNS)
1992-1996: Chairman of the National Security Committee of the Croatian Parliament
Until 1992: President of the House of Municipalities of the Croatian Parliament
1991-1998: Member of the Supreme State Council, the Defence and National Security Council (VONS) and the Joint National Security Committee (SONS)
1991: Minister of Defence and acting Commander of the Croatian National Guard (ZNG)
1990-1998: Member of the HDZ Central Committee, several times elected to the HDZ Presidency
Since September 1989: Member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
Major General of the Croatian Armed Forces (in reserve)

FOREIGN LANGUAGES:
Italian and Russian (basic knowledge)

HOBBIES
Literature, olive and clementine growing, fishing